Cala Comte, Cala d'Hort & Ibiza's Coves

Land, collect your bags and settle into your accommodation. Give yourself time to shake off the journey before the island gets its claws in.

A gentle, sheltered arc of sand just a short ride from town — the perfect place to take your first dip of the trip. The water is calm enough to float and stare at the sky, the beach long enough to find your own stretch of it. Rinse off the travel, feel the warmth of the Ibizan sun and remember why you came.

With sand still between your toes, pull up a chair at Vanilla Beach for a relaxed beachside lunch. Fresh flavours, easy service, and a view that makes everything taste better.

As the afternoon heat softens, head south-east to Cala Llonga — a horseshoe cove where pine-covered hills slide straight into clear water. Snorkel along the rocky edges or simply wade in and let the afternoon stretch out. It's quieter than the morning beach and all the better for it.

End the day at Magnus Playa Bistro, where the kitchen leans into the island's seafood and the terrace catches the last of the evening light. Order slowly, linger over every course — you've earned it.

Get here early and you'll understand why this is one of Ibiza's most loved coves. The water is a deep, transparent blue-green framed by ochre rock faces, and the sand is fine underfoot. Spend the morning swimming between the main cove and its tiny neighbour Cala Saladeta just around the headland — a short scramble rewards you with your own private patch of sea.

A short drive from the cove, Ohana Ibiza serves up food that channels the island's easy, sun-kissed energy. Settle into the shade and refuel before the afternoon's adventures.

Give the afternoon heat its due respect and spend an hour inside the cool, stone-paved lanes of Dalt Vila — Ibiza's walled old town. Climb to the ramparts for a panorama that takes in the harbour, the salt flats and the open sea. It's a 15-minute detour from the beach that puts the whole island into perspective.

Drive south-west to Cala d'Hort in time for the last two hours of daylight. The reward is one of the island's most dramatic views: the rock island of Es Vedrà rises straight out of the sea directly ahead of you, glowing amber as the sun drops behind it. Wade in, let the water come to shoulder height and watch the light do its work.

After that sunset, dinner at Coquus feels like a natural crescendo. The kitchen cooks with real care and the atmosphere is warm without being showy — a proper sit-down meal after a full day on the island.

On Carrer de la Mare de Déu.

Save the best for last. Cala Comte is a cluster of small sandy bays facing a chain of rocky islets, and the water here — layered turquoise over white sand — is as good as the island gets. Arrive mid-morning, claim a spot, swim out to the islets if the sea is calm and let the morning dissolve entirely.

BEACHOUSE sits practically on the sand — the kind of lunch spot where you eat with a sea breeze in your hair and damp swimwear still on. Laid-back, photogenic, and exactly the right move after a morning in the water.

A short hop up the coast from Cala Comte, Cala Bassa offers a wider stretch of sand backed by pine trees — ideal for an afternoon of drifting between the shade and the sea. The water stays shallow for a good distance, making it easy to simply walk out, turn around and look back at the island.

Rock Bar is perched on the rocks at the edge of the sea in Ses Salines — a legendary perch for watching the sun drop below the horizon on your last evening. Grab a drink, find a spot on the rocks and toast three days well spent on this island.

On Plaça dels Desemparats.